Investors have another reason to bail out of Boston Scientific (BSX). It has been in a battle with the medical research community for over a year fighting the perception that its drug-coated stents may be unsafe.

Comments about the potential danger of stents has sharply cut their use for treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The latest research on stent use compared to open heart surgery indicates that stents are relatively less effective. According to Reuters, "Despite the advent of drug-eluting stents, surgery comes out a winner," Douglas Weaver, president of the American College of Cardiology.

If the study results had fallen the other way, BSX might have hoped for a pick-up in sales of one of its most important products.

No such luck. Shares in Boston Scientific trade at $13, down from $44 a little over four years ago.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.